101 Uses For is popular and let's hope it stays that way. Our second book is presently called 101 tips for self sufficiency; we will certainly dip into this section for ideas. So post away and let's try and get at least one thread up to 101.

18:Sheets were given a new lease of life when cut in two; the unworn sides were then sewn back together. When these wore out they were cut up and used as napkins. Then eventually they would be used for cleaning cloths.

19: Flour bags were sewn together to make handy sheets â€“not the modern paper ones!

20: Shoppers went to the bakery with a pillowcase in which to bring home the bread.

21: Dry cleaning clothes is hard on the material. Chemicals used in this process are harmful to the environment. In days gone by the clothes were washed in lukewarm water then hung up to dry without wringing.

22: A goose wing (detached from the goose of course!) was great for dusting- they were free from chemicals too!

23: Greaseproof paper was used to wrap food. This worked just as well as harmful tin foil or clingfilm.

24. Use natural sanitary products rather than the chemical filled nasties most commonly found (and implicated in toxic shock syndrome): cotton reusable pads, a mooncup, or Natracare products.
25. Use cotton hankies rather than bleached tissues or kitchen roll. Fewer chemicals and better for the environment.
26. Try soapnuts for your laundry. They are great on dark clothes, but I have to admit to using Ecover liquid on the whites.

27 Polish the chrome on your car. Vinegar is a great chrome cleaner, look around your kitchen too and have a go at getting the grime off any chrome-plated surface.

28 Cleans and disinfects work surfaces, mirrors and glass. Mix a few caps full of vinegar to the water when you are cleaning the windows and work surfaces. Use it neat on kitchen surfaces.
29
Sooth tired and aching feet. Put some vinegar in a bucket of warm water and get soaking those feet after a hard days work.

30 Repair scratches in wood. Put some neat on a soft cloth and rub gently on the scratches.

31 Stop hiccups. My lad swears by this, just swallow a teaspoon full and your hiccups will disappear in an instant!

32 Whitens whites in the washing machine and brightens colours. Add some to the washing cycle, you will find that the vinegar also fades sweat stains.

34. Use GIN instead of wine vinegar, it does the same job and em.. does not smell of vinegar. Brilliant window cleaner and general purpose dusting aid. 33% solution with water. Used in many hotels and restaurants to avoid upsetting guests with allergies.

Note: Gin and Tonic does not work, but if you add some angustoras bitters it has to be the only household cleaner that doubles as an aperitif

colours wrote:23 Bicarb and vinegar cleans soap scum. Wet a cloth/sponge with vinegar and sprinkle bicarb. While it is foaming wipe on shower screens, etc. Soapscum comes off without scrubbing OR chemicals.

Sorry that was 34.

35 Add bicarb in your dishwasher (where the soap tablet would go) and vinegar in the rinse bit. Works fine.

AXJ wrote:34. Use GIN instead of wine vinegar, it does the same job and em.. does not smell of vinegar. Brilliant window cleaner and general purpose dusting aid. 33% solution with water. Used in many hotels and restaurants to avoid upsetting guests with allergies.

if anyone touches my gin bottle for cleaning with they will find themselves cleaning drains with a toothbrush for a month

Running low on fabric conditioner so I thought I would finally get round to giving this a go.
IT WORKS!!! Just a tablespoon of it, and they come up just as soft as they did with Ecover. I had heard of it before, but was nervous about the kids going to school smelling like fish and chips. They don't! In fact, no-one in my family even knows I've swapped over

Following a tip I was given by another Isher, bicarb can be used instead of shampoo. I've been experimenting with what works best and this morning I put some along my parting to absorb any g-r-e-a-s-e then after I'd cleaned my teeth and faffed around for a few mins I got in the shower and rubbed more bicarb all over my hair then rinsed it out. No chemicals or overpowering shampoo pongs and gives the drains a quick bicarb rinse too. My hair has been particularly shiny today but not as soft as with conditioner. I can live with that!

Descale your kettles, coffee machines, baby bottle warmers, sterilisers, I use 10g of citric (1 tablespoon more or less) to 200ml of water and leave for around 20mins. I prefer it to vinegar, as vinegar takes a while to work, but citric is fast reacting!

Clean off water marks on shower doors etc, make a paste and rub gently.